shen

I don't mind Cooper talking about his own failures. It shows he's aware and that there's some willingness to improve. Rodgers was the opposite.

It's a bit of both. We made mistakes for their goals, but they provoked them too. They would've scored even more if they took chances that they fashioned by themselves. I know they're Forest, but they did their job well and should get praise for that.

Right. So Vestergaard getting shunted, what's the simplest explanation here? BDR and Ayew jumping in front of the queue, despite Fatawu and Mavididi performing better in virtually every appearance? Buonanotte being in and out despite being our top scorer and most dangerous player? It's obvious that he has preferences and maybe even has personal issues with some of the players. I don't buy that it's down to training. We've countless examples of players being 'poor', 'uncommitted' or even absent from training and still delivering the goods during match days. Ricardo, Mavididi, Fatawu and Vestergaard all have to earn some respect from Cooper by virtue of their pedigree and, truthfully, their performance levels too.

They were perfectly sound. They played to their strengths well and they played some good stuff at times. As mentioned in the match thread, even Aina, whom I've never rated, completely bossed their right side.

We would've had this hammering against Spurs, if they could finish in that game. The mistakes have been there all season, regardless of style, tactics or setup. We failed miserably on all parameters second half. But I felt there was good reason to be optimistic at half time. Mavididi's chance just before half time should've set the tone for the second half, but our proneness to make mistakes was through the roof. My theory is that this is caused by lack of direction or clear instructions from management. It looks like lapses of concentration, but when it happens all over the pitch, I'm thinking it's systematic. It's not been touched on much tonight, but we were catastrophic when defending set pieces today (again!). Where is the organization, leadership and plan?

It's the first time he plays Marescas formation, but he deployed Ndidi on the wrong side and he omitted our best defender for this system. It's Ricardo's first start in months. And yet it was a fine, if rusty, first 45 mins. Cooper's failure to focus the players at half time and changing it around when Forest had us sussed out, that's on him.

But it was "Mads' fault" it truly was Mads' fault though. He should have predicted Faes and Okoli couldn't be trusted to deal with a goal kick...

Thought Aina had a flawless game, really excellent. Never rated him, so fair play. Their left back too.

I got that part right at half time at least.

We were improving over the first 45. Second half has been shocking. Credit to Forest for being very solid, but we've not worked them hard enough. Buonanotte, Mavididi and Fatawu not finding spaces. Our goal came from Winks breaking forward, like Ricardo did last season on numerous occasions. We saw 0 of that second half. But if Faes or Okoli doesn't get hooked and Vestergaard reinstated, what is the point in persisting with Cooper? He did nothing wrong in the first two games and lord knows his ability on the ball was needed today! Don't believe he would've been done by Wood for either goal in Okoli/Faes' place.

It won't. It's been utterly one-sided this half. I completely jinxed it at half time.

Did you miss Ryan Fraser in our most recent game?

On an unpopular sidenote, I think Pawson has had a good game.

It's a great finish, but Okoli has to challenge him.

Yeah. Not a fan of Okoli, yet. Wood has been a menace all game. Fats still not switched on. Mountain to climb again.

It's odd that Ndidi isn't playing on the right of the middle box for that reason. He was so dilligent making those runs and Buonanotte has proven he can do it left or right. It's small details like this that can make a difference.

I think we'll be even better second half. Until we have to make subs at least. Happy to see us reverting to this setup allowing Ricardo a game and Winks to flourish. If Mav and Fats sharpen up, we're running away with this

It's a shame Vestergaard cannot get a game with this formation against this opposition. We're struggling to keep the ball.

Jannik, once more, stood out for DK against Spain. Easily MotM. And he doesn't make our bench. Go figure...

Of course, but it increasingly looks like it was a decisive factor. The club has never recovered from that blow.

I know GD counts, but I believe getting rid of Cooper is worth more than a point. I'm aware he won't get the sack after today, but it will increase pressure on him more if we get stomped.

We have no chance today. So instead of a 2-1 loss I'd take an 8-0 hiding as it WILL be tougher to stomach for fans and the board.

We didn't inflict a heli crash on ourselves...

Take the pill now and get him aborted. A mistake will stay a mistake no matter how long you overthink it.

About whom? Rodgers, Smith and Cooper? Ok, let's not gloss over his performances under Rodgers which were largely terrible, but the way Maresca made him click for an entire season and the way he's fought his way back in both the Leicester and Denmark squads should tell you what he's like as a character. He finally thought he'd proven his worth and didn't exactly let us down in the first two games. Now he's frozen out - again. I understand wanting to give Okoli a chance, but Faes could've been the one making way instead. Putting Coady on the bench is just a bizarre move.